Managing Stress Through Spiritual and Relational Well-being
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the intricate relationship between stress, well-being, and our spiritual lives. Drawing from both psychological research and biblical teachings, we examined how stress impacts our ability to love God, others, and ourselves. The framework of heart, mind, soul, and strength, as outlined in the greatest commandment, aligns closely with modern well-being literature. Stress can be categorized into eustress, which is positive and energizing, and distress, which is overwhelming and debilitating. Understanding the type of stress we are experiencing can help us better manage it.
We also delved into the internal and external demands that contribute to our stress levels. Internal demands often stem from voices of authority figures from our past, while external demands come from our various roles in life. The gap between our current abilities and the expectations placed upon us is where anxiety thrives. To manage this, we need to either increase our resources or reduce our expectations.
The sermon also highlighted the importance of relational frameworks in managing stress. Being fully known and still delighted in by others can significantly reduce our stress levels and increase our joy. This mirrors our relationship with God, who knows us completely and loves us unconditionally. The images we hold of God, shaped by our family of origin, religious communities, and personal experiences, play a crucial role in how we manage stress.
Burnout, primarily an emotional exhaustion, was discussed as a result of sustained stress and high expectations. Effective management of burnout involves relational support and a secure sense of being known and loved. The sermon concluded with practical steps to cultivate joy and peace, emphasizing the importance of gratitude and relational connections.
### Key Takeaways
1. Holistic Well-being and the Greatest Commandment: The greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength aligns with modern well-being literature. Each aspect—emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical—needs attention for holistic health. Ignoring any one of these can lead to imbalances and increased stress. [41:29]
2. Types of Stress: Eustress vs. Distress: Not all stress is harmful. Eustress, or positive stress, can be energizing and help us find our God-given purpose. Distress, on the other hand, is overwhelming and occurs when we feel under-resourced. Recognizing the type of stress we are experiencing can help us manage it more effectively. [43:48]
3. Internal and External Demands: Our stress levels are influenced by both internal and external demands. Internal demands often come from internalized voices of authority figures from our past, while external demands come from our various roles in life. Understanding these sources can help us address the root causes of our stress. [45:54]
4. Relational Frameworks and Joy: Being fully known and still delighted in by others can significantly reduce stress and increase joy. This mirrors our relationship with God, who knows us completely and loves us unconditionally. Secure relationships where we feel known and loved are crucial for managing stress effectively. [56:55]
5. Practical Steps for Cultivating Joy and Peace: Practicing gratitude and focusing on moments of goodness can help us cultivate joy and peace. Even in stressful times, finding small moments of relational connection and reflecting on them can have a tangible positive impact on our mental and emotional well-being. [20:00]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[41:29] - Holistic Well-being and the Greatest Commandment
[43:48] - Types of Stress: Eustress vs. Distress
[45:54] - Internal and External Demands
[56:55] - Relational Frameworks and Joy
[20:00] - Practical Steps for Cultivating Joy and Peace
[37:47] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Mark 12:30-31 (NIV): "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these."
2. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV): "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of
Devotional
Day 1: Holistic Well-being and the Greatest Commandment
The greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength aligns with modern well-being literature. Each aspect—emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical—needs attention for holistic health. Ignoring any one of these can lead to imbalances and increased stress. When we neglect any part of our being, we create gaps that can be filled with anxiety and distress. By focusing on holistic well-being, we can better fulfill the commandment to love God fully and live a balanced life.
Holistic well-being is not just a modern concept but deeply rooted in biblical teachings. The greatest commandment calls us to love God with every part of our being—heart, mind, soul, and strength. This comprehensive approach to love and devotion mirrors the principles found in well-being literature, which emphasizes the importance of addressing emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical health. When we neglect any one of these areas, we create imbalances that can lead to increased stress and hinder our ability to love God, others, and ourselves effectively. By striving for holistic well-being, we can better align our lives with the greatest commandment and experience a more balanced and fulfilling life.
[41:29]
Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV): "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
Reflection: Which aspect of your well-being—emotional, mental, spiritual, or physical—have you been neglecting? How can you take a step today to address this imbalance and better fulfill the greatest commandment?
Day 2: Types of Stress: Eustress vs. Distress
Not all stress is harmful. Eustress, or positive stress, can be energizing and help us find our God-given purpose. Distress, on the other hand, is overwhelming and occurs when we feel under-resourced. Recognizing the type of stress we are experiencing can help us manage it more effectively. By identifying whether we are dealing with eustress or distress, we can take appropriate steps to either harness the positive energy or mitigate the negative impact.
Understanding the difference between eustress and distress is crucial for effective stress management. Eustress is a positive form of stress that can motivate and energize us, helping us to achieve our goals and fulfill our God-given purpose. It can be a driving force that pushes us to grow and improve. On the other hand, distress is a negative form of stress that can be overwhelming and debilitating. It occurs when we feel under-resourced and unable to meet the demands placed upon us. By recognizing the type of stress we are experiencing, we can take appropriate steps to either harness the positive energy of eustress or mitigate the negative impact of distress.
[43:48]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Can you identify a current stressor in your life? Is it eustress or distress? How can you either harness its positive energy or take steps to reduce its negative impact?
Day 3: Internal and External Demands
Our stress levels are influenced by both internal and external demands. Internal demands often come from internalized voices of authority figures from our past, while external demands come from our various roles in life. Understanding these sources can help us address the root causes of our stress. By recognizing the origins of our stress, we can take steps to either increase our resources or reduce our expectations, thereby managing our stress more effectively.
Internal and external demands play a significant role in shaping our stress levels. Internal demands often stem from the internalized voices of authority figures from our past, such as parents, teachers, or mentors. These voices can create unrealistic expectations and pressures that we place on ourselves. External demands, on the other hand, come from the various roles we play in life, such as being a parent, employee, or friend. These roles come with their own set of expectations and responsibilities. By understanding the sources of our stress, we can address the root causes and take steps to either increase our resources or reduce our expectations, thereby managing our stress more effectively.
[45:54]
Psalm 55:22 (ESV): "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."
Reflection: What internal or external demands are currently contributing to your stress? How can you either increase your resources or reduce your expectations to manage this stress more effectively?
Day 4: Relational Frameworks and Joy
Being fully known and still delighted in by others can significantly reduce stress and increase joy. This mirrors our relationship with God, who knows us completely and loves us unconditionally. Secure relationships where we feel known and loved are crucial for managing stress effectively. By fostering deep, authentic connections with others, we can create a supportive network that helps us navigate life's challenges with greater ease and joy.
Relational frameworks play a crucial role in managing stress and cultivating joy. When we are fully known and still delighted in by others, it can significantly reduce our stress levels and increase our sense of joy and well-being. This mirrors our relationship with God, who knows us completely and loves us unconditionally. Secure relationships where we feel known and loved provide a safe space for us to be ourselves and share our burdens. By fostering deep, authentic connections with others, we can create a supportive network that helps us navigate life's challenges with greater ease and joy.
[56:55]
1 John 4:12 (ESV): "No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."
Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life where you feel fully known and loved. How can you nurture this relationship to create a stronger support network for managing stress?
Day 5: Practical Steps for Cultivating Joy and Peace
Practicing gratitude and focusing on moments of goodness can help us cultivate joy and peace. Even in stressful times, finding small moments of relational connection and reflecting on them can have a tangible positive impact on our mental and emotional well-being. By intentionally seeking out and savoring these moments, we can create a more joyful and peaceful life.
Cultivating joy and peace in our lives requires intentional effort, especially during stressful times. One practical step is to practice gratitude by focusing on moments of goodness and relational connections. Even in the midst of stress, finding small moments of joy and reflecting on them can have a tangible positive impact on our mental and emotional well-being. By intentionally seeking out and savoring these moments, we can create a more joyful and peaceful life. Practicing gratitude helps shift our focus from what is lacking to what is present, fostering a sense of contentment and well-being.
[20:00]
Colossians 3:15 (ESV): "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
Reflection: What is one small moment of goodness or relational connection you can focus on today? How can practicing gratitude for this moment help you cultivate joy and peace in your life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Stress impacts our capacity to love God, to love others, and to love ourselves in unique ways. So, I don't know if that sort of gets through. It's at some of where our conversation started. Yeah. So, we don't typically like being stressed. Or we think, oh, I'm stressed. And we think of that as a negative thing. But actually, stress is understood in two different types. So, we have eustress, which is E-U-S-T-R-E-S-S. And then we have distress. And so, generally, when we refer to stress, most of us think, well, that's distress." (47 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We know in scripture that God pictures himself in countless ways. And each of you, when I say God. You cannot think of God without having a picture. That's just the way that our mind works. So, some of us may have in our church culture been raised on a loving father image of God. Which we'll find true in scripture. And we connect to a picture of what that is. Others of us heard a lot more about God is judge. And there is wrath for sin. Well, that is also a truth that we would find in scripture." (32 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The scriptures talk about how do we share each other's burdens? How do we truly. We can't do our jobs for us. But how are we known in the context of those stressors? So, for instance. We're talking about stress which fuels anxiety. Which keeps us really motivated. Because none of us really want to live under perpetual fear. So, we're always constantly managing not failing." (23 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Joy is fundamentally communicated through the eyes. And so, when we look at people. Do we see each other as fundamental treasure of delight? And are we curious to discover each other? And that if what we are to discover is going to be great. That premise is the foundation of any really satisfied relationship when we look at the literature." (22 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I used to wrestle with this thought that we should give thanks in all things. And always be grateful. But I don't think it's about being grateful for every thing. Because truly there are some evil, terrible things. But there is always space to find what is still good or a gift to focus on." (16 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "And lo and behold, we have this summary of what, when Jesus is asked, well, what is most important? And Jesus actually tells us to love God with our heart, our emotions, mind, soul, or spiritual being. So, all of those factors, heart, mind, soul, and strength are actually what the literature looks at in terms of tracking wellness. And so, the framework was looking at, okay, so how do we assess and have what we say a baseline health before workers start moving abroad. And literally at least double their stressors. And then we track with them over their career." (37 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So, what kind of attends to that? How do we step into that? I would say largely through we fundamentally need to relate to that by and through a relational framework. So, yes, we can practically address some of those things. But fundamentally our well-being is going to be affected by how that stress is impacting our core relationships. So, we are all. We are all stressed. But how do we step into relationships where we can. The scriptures talk about how do we share each other's burdens?" (31 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So, in that burnout sense of how do we tend to that part of ourselves that just keeps giving and giving. With the law of diminishing returns. I'm actually going to give more and more of myself. And get more. But actually get increasingly more exhausted. If I'm kind of sticking with your theme. So, what kind of attends to that? How do we step into that? I would say largely through we fundamentally need to relate to that by and through a relational framework." (31 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So, those people, those are the people that I live with. And what we find spiritually to kind of pick up on that dynamic. I could ask them and actually, well, yeah. I could ask them. What do you believe about God? And I can tell you most of them because they are Christian workers in the region. They will generally all tell me the same thing. They will tell me that God is loving. God is grace. There is mercy. And that I can't do enough to please God or even please other people. I'm glad for the gospel that frees me and still calls me higher." (37 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So, fundamentally our well-being is going to be affected by how that stress is impacting our core relationships. So, we are all. We are all stressed. But how do we step into relationships where we can. The scriptures talk about how do we share each other's burdens? How do we truly. We can't do our jobs for us. But how are we known in the context of those stressors? So, for instance. We're talking about stress which fuels anxiety. Which keeps us really motivated. Because none of us really want to live under perpetual fear. So, we're always constantly managing not failing." (23 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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